The city of Beaverton is looking at a $10.7 million shortfall in its general fund as the city approaches approval of a 2025-26 fiscal year budget.

The city is proposing cuts in several departments, including the library, police department, public works and the city manager’s office. This is the third budget year in which the city is looking to cut from the general fund to balance the budget.
What is significant is that many of the proposed cuts from the fiscal year budget are vacant.

From the general fund and library fund specifically, the city says a total of 21.41 positions are on the chopping block, but nearly 17 of these are vacant or soon to be vacant.

With expenditures outpacing revenues, the city revealed its proposed $495 million budget at a budget committee meeting held May 5.

“Tonight isn’t just about numbers, it’s about the choices and priorities that will shape the future of our city,” Mayor Lacey Beaty said. “This is our third budget that has focused on correcting a structural deficit, a challenge made even more difficult by the limitations of (state property tax law).”

Beauty said that with the tax base growing by just 3% annually, and inflation outpacing that, “we’re facing a fiscal challenge that no amount of belt tightening can fully resolve.”

Beaverton City Manager Jenny Haruyama added that the city is navigating “really choppy waters” within all funds, but that the general fund will be bearing the brunt of the burden.

Among the proposed police cuts are a reduction in the police bike team from six officers to four and the elimination of an officer/clinician on the Mental Health Resource Team. Proposed police reductions in the budget are from vacant positions, according to the city.

The city says the proposed budget recommends the reduction of three positions at the Beaverton City Library: A library outreach specialist and two library assistants. However, a couple of these positions were already vacant, the city noted.

Meanwhile, the city street fund may pause $2.4 million in street reconstruction projects pending identification of new funding sources. The city also faces the proposed elimination of a vacant management position in the city manager’s office.

The next budget committee meeting will be May 19. The city council, at its June 3 meeting, is set to consider and adopt the budget with proposed cuts. The city is legally required to adopt a balanced budget no later than June 30. The new fiscal year budget kicks in on July 1.